4-1-1 of Academic Planning Recap

For those serious about college planning, I strongly suggest that you read the book, “A High School Plan for Students with College-Bound Dreams” [ISBN 978-1-880463-06-2 – $19.95] as it is impossible to sufficiently cover nearly 300 pages of material within the timeframe of a 1.5 hour workshop. College planning is a knowledge intensive process and failure to adequately plan leaves thousands of students thousands of dollars in debt and without a degree each year. Read my blog entry, “The Financial Risks of Choosing the Wrong College” and the Education Trust’s Report, “Subprime Opportunity: The Unfulfilled Promise of For-Profit Colleges and Universities.”

Following are some of the key points and links discussed at the College Planning Seminar presented at Turner Chapel AME Church on Sunday, September 25, 2011.

As indicated in my blog entry, “Pick a Box” it is critically important that parents begin exploring college options based on student interests during the primary grades if they are to ensure that students have the necessary middle-through-high school course schedule to gain admissions into the types of colleges, and prepared to pursue the types of college majors, that are aligned with student interests.

5 things that students can do to begin developing comprehensive college-bound plans:

  1. Get a copy of the book, “A High School Plan for Students with College-Bound Dreams
  2. Get a copy of your middle and high school course catalog
  3. Get a copy of the online course offerings for your state or local school district, e.g., (http://www.gavirtualschool.org)
  4. Identify the middle school classes that you can take for high school credit
  5. Identify the entry criteria for the gifted program, advanced middle school classes, and high school honors, Pre-AP, IB, and AP classes at the schools that you will be attending

Review my blog entry regarding the importance of doing your research and download a blank “College Research Sheet.”

Develop your “Fantastic Four” of college preparation to ensure that you are the best possible candidate for college admissions:

  1. Academics
  2. Extracurricular Activities
  3. Personal Qualities
  4. Intangibles

Go to U.S. News and World Reports to review college rankings.

5 primary considerations for the classes that a student takes in grades K-12 as they relate to college:

  1. Meet your high school graduation requirements
  2. Meet college admissions requirements for the colleges and universities you wish to attend
  3. Make yourself a competitive candidate in the college admissions process
  4. Be adequately prepared for college-level coursework
  5. Save money in college tuition through AP and Joint Enrollment classes, and merit-based scholarships

Based on 2011 Georgia ACT performance results, the percentage of students, by race, who WERE NOT considered college ready (see my blog entry for National ACT performance results):

  • 61 percent of Asian Students
  • 67 percent of White Students
  • 83 percent of Hispanic Students
  • 95 percent of Black Students

5 things that you can do to better prepare yourself for college:

  1. Take the most difficult classes that you can get a “B” or better
  2. Take 4 years of math, science, and a foreign language
  3. Increase your reading, speaking, and writing skills
  4. Identify a tutor BEFORE you need one
  5. Take as many classes as possible in the area that will be your “Hook”

4 things colleges are looking for when reviewing your transcript:

  1. The strength of your academic schedule against what was offered at your high school
  2. The grades that you received in the classes that reflect the likelihood of your succeeding at the college that you are applying to
  3. Classes that related to what you say that you are passionate about
  4. How your course schedule compares to other students like you

Important questions that you must answer:

  • Are you willing to take classes that your friends may not be willing to take?
  • Are you willing to make sacrifices?
  • Are you willing to work hard?
  • Are you willing to risk getting low grades?
  • Are you willing to work with one or more tutors?
  • Are you willing to accept the sense of cultural isolation that occurs when students from your gender or racial group are underrepresented in advanced classes, academic clubs, and programs?

The types of colleges that your coursework will get you into:

  • AP/IB: Highly-competitive
  • Honors: Competitive
  • Regular: Traditional
  • Remedial: Open Enrollment

5 things you should be doing to ensure academic success:

  1. Plan your course schedule from today through your final year of high school based on the level of college you want to gain admissions into.
  2. Identify the tutors and support materials that you may need.
  3. Plan and organize your school year to ensure that you achieve a successful balance between your academics and extracurricular activities.
  4. Stop whining to your parents about how hard school is and accept that, for most students, school is your only job!
  5. Talk to your parents and teachers when you are struggling so that they can support you and ensure that you are successful.

Final thoughts:

  • Maximize your opportunities during high school to ensure that you are adequately prepared for college
  • Don’t be a class clown
  • Avoid discipline infractions
  • Take your grades seriously from the first day of ninth grade through the final day of the twelve grade

Email Mychal Wynn at mychalwynn@accessandequity.org, visit his personal website at www.mychalwynn.com, or call (770) 518-0369 if you would like to bring this workshop to your school, PTA/PTSA, organization, or to your place of employment as a lunchtime seminar.

Watch the Youtube Video Part I

Watch the Youtube Video Part II

 

 

 

College Research Sheet

It is highly advisable that students research and visit potential colleges. The completed College Research Sheet illustrated here provides a quick glimpse of the differences between Ivy League, HBCU, public, military, and highly-selective liberal arts colleges. There are huge differences in acceptance rates, graduation rates, number of students, costs of attendance, and diversity. Students should identify a group of colleges they are interested in applying to, thoroughly research the schools, schedule an on-campus visit, and carefully discuss their options with parents, counselors, coaches, and students who have attended the college or university.

Download a blank College Research Sheet

 

Your Senior Year

Senior year is a can be a very stressful time in the lives of students and their families—preparing the senior yearbook ad, preparing for the prom, taking the SAT and/or ACT (again!), researching colleges, visiting colleges and perusing viewbooks, brochures, and costs, not to mention preparing college application packages, writing scholarship essays, staying on top of your grades, participating in clubs and activities, and working as hard as you can to make yourself a competitive candidate for admissions into your top colleges.

Following are some quick points of things that you should keep in mind as you begin your senior year of high school.

SAT/ACT

Be sure to take the SAT or ACT in time for colleges to receive your scores before their application deadlines, because many colleges will not accept scores received after the deadline. Scores must be sent to the colleges directly from the SAT (CollegeBoard) or the ACT. Scores are sent to as many as four colleges at no charge. There is an additional fee to send scores to more colleges.

Application Fee Waivers

There are several ways to receive an application fee waiver:

  • Students on free or reduced lunch may request SAT and ACT fee waivers from their counselor and request college application fee waivers from the colleges that they are interested in applying to
  • College representatives will often give application fee waivers to prospective students at college fairs and when visiting their local high schools
  • Colleges that invite students to apply, to attend diversity weekends, or to admissions presentations will often offer application fee waivers to prospective students
  • Nonprofit organizations that assist students with applying to college like Quest Bridge (www.questbridge.org) arrange application fee waivers with a wide range of colleges

Submitting your application

Many colleges accept, if not prefer, applications submitted through the common application program (commonapp.org). Other colleges prefer that applications be submitted online through their website.

Official School Transcripts

Know the cost and the process to request an official copy of your high school transcript at your high school.

Teacher and Counselor Evaluations/Recommendations

Talk to your teachers and counselors so that you know how much in advance they will need to receive your request for them to write an evaluation/recommendation

Scholarships

Scholarship application deadlines occur throughout your senior year, with many deadlines occurring in October, November, and December.

Colleges will have their own deadlines, with many occurring as early as September and October for institutional scholarships and Honors scholarships.

FAFSA

Colleges may not award you federal student aid, and in many cases, any financial aid whatsoever before you have fully completed your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). You may complete your application online at www.fafsa.ed.gov (which is free) NOT fafsa.com (which will cost you money!).

Research

If you do not enter your senior year with a list of colleges that you have thoroughly researched, then you are far behind! Get your research done.

Click here to download a college research form

 

 

Georgia Black Law Students Retreat

4th Annual Black Law Students Retreat (2011)
“Succeeding in Law School and Beyond”

Schedule of Events

Friday, September 16, 2011
Social Networking Reception
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Remarks by:  Georgia Supreme Court Justice Harold Melton
Fulton County State Court Chief Judge Patsy Porter

Saturday, September 17, 2011
Tailored programming to include: Business Etiquette and Professionalism,
Interviewing, Bar Fitness, Test Taking, Branding, and Mentoring
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Hosted by
King & Spalding, LLP
1180 Peachtree Street, N.E.
16th Floor
Atlanta, GA  30309

Law Students: Business attire required for all retreat events.
Students attending Georgia law schools are invited to participate.
See your BLSA Representatives for registration packets.

For questions and further details: Contact BLSR Committee Chair
Dawn Jones at DJones@kslaw.com or (404) 572-3559


Scholarship Opportunity for Black Female Law Students

GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF BLACK WOMEN ATTORNEYS FOUNDATION

2011 SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

In keeping with its mission to serve the needs and interests of Black women attorneys, the Georgia Association of Black Women AttorneysFoundation is seeking qualified applicants to consider for scholarships. The applicant must be a second or third-year Black woman law student enrolled in law school in the State of Georgia in good academic standing. Scholarships will be awarded to applicants who demonstrate one or a combination of criteria, including academic achievement, leadership, and a strong commitment to the profession and her community.  Financial need will be considered in awarding the scholarships, but is not a prerequisite.  A strong candidate will highlight her involvement in programs that affect and promote the advancement of Black women in the profession and community, as well as her abilities as a leader. Applications must be postmarked no later than Monday, October 3, 2011 and mailed to:  The Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys Foundation Scholarship Committee, Post Office Box 7381, 1072 West Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30309-9998.  The Committee will conduct interviews on Saturday, October 22, 2011. For questions, contact Kara L. Thompson, GABWA Foundation Scholarship Committee Co- Chair at kara@karathompsonenterprises.com or (404) 314-4598.

Applying to College

High school students have a variety of ways of submitting their college applications, i.e., by mail, in person (either at a college fair or by walking your application into the college’s office of admissions), or online.

I am not aware of any colleges and universities that accept applications directly from prospective students online, however, following are three online options that allow students to submit their application to member schools Online:

Some colleges and universities may require a supplement in addition to the online application. Supplements usually contain additional, institution-specific questions and, in some cases, additional essay questions. However, even when a college or university does not require a supplement, you may consider including extra materials if you believe that they will enhance your application, give the school a better understanding of your unique gifts and talents, and thereby increase your changes of being accepted.

If you are planning to apply to multiple schools, completing the online applications will save time and likely reduce errors, e.g., misspellings, missing documents, etc. With all of the normal anxiety of applying to college, you will at least eliminate the anxiety associated with wondering if the college received your application or if it was lost in the mail.

Turner Chapel AME 2011 College Fair

Over 2,000 parents and students took advantage of the unique opportunity provided by the Turner Chapel AME 2011 College Fair. Colleges from the Ivy League, HBCUs, the U.S. Military Service Academies, and local Community Colleges were represented. Students and parents from 8 public school districts and many private schools were able to speak firsthand with college representatives. Financial aid information and information about the application process to the U.S. Military Service Academies was also available. Not only were students able to receive information from over 50 colleges and universities, some colleges allowed students to submit applications on the spot and waived application fees.

Representatives from SallieMae presented a financial aid and scholarship workshop, awarding one of the participants a $500 college scholarship. Some local high schools recognized the unique opportunity and well publicized the fair by making announcements and talking to students in advisory. Other high schools did little to share the information with students and the numbers showed. 18 local high schools accounted for over 50 percent of the students attending the fair, while many other local high schools did little to share information with students. Parents and students must understand that some high schools do a great deal to prepare students for college while other high schools are only concerned with ensuring that students graduate from high school. Which type of high school does your child attend.

Visiting several fairs, which are generally free to the public, can save a student hundreds of dollars in application fees and demystify the college admissions process. Speak with your high school counselor and identify the local college fairs in your area. The National Association for College Admission Counseling sponsors college fairs nationally, the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation has a listing of college fairs, and The New England Association for College Admission Counseling has a listing of college fairs. The CollegeBoard offers tips on what to do before and after the fair.

Contact us to find out how your church, community organization, or school may do more to prepare students for college.

If you missed the fair, watch the video…

Pick a Box!

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is an important effort to move states in the direction of developing a common curriculum and shared expectations in what students should learn, know, and be able to do. The initiative states:

“Building on the excellent foundation of standards states have laid, the Common Core State Standards are the first step in providing our young people with a high-quality education. It should be clear to every student, parent, and teacher what the standards of success are in every school.

Teachers, parents and community leaders have all weighed in to help create the Common Core State Standards. The standards clearly communicate what is expected of students at each grade level. This will allow our teachers to be better equipped to know exactly what they need to help students learn and establish individualized benchmarks for them. The Common Core State Standards focus on core conceptual understandings and procedures starting in the early grades, thus enabling teachers to take the time needed to teach core concepts and procedures well—and to give students the opportunity to master them.

With students, parents and teachers all on the same page and working together for shared goals, we can ensure that students make progress each year and graduate from school prepared to succeed in college and in a modern workforce.”

However, the real challenges of teaching and learning will not change, nor will they be solved by simply adopting a common curriculum. Teachers will still have to teach effectively and students will still have to apply themselves to learning what is being taught. In this regard, my starting point as a teacher is not to begin with telling students what I am going to teach, but asking students where they want to go, in essence, “Pick a Box.” This illustration outlines the general choices after high school that every young person will be confronted with, e.g., will you go to work, go to college, or enlist into the military? The salary is the median salary for each level of education, i.e., high school diploma, 4-year college degree, graduate degree, etc. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010).

Raising this question and getting students to affirm where they believe that they wan to go is as important for the kindergartener as it is for the twelfh-grader, perhaps even more so. The kindergarten student who affirms that he or she wants to become a doctor has 12 years to place learning within that context. He or she must apply his or herself to math and science, not to simply learn, but to know! If he or she is affirming that he or she wants to pursue a law degree, then developing language, critical thinking, debate, and an expanded vocabulary makes sense long before he or she begins prepping for the SAT or ACT as a high school student.

Once we better understand where students think that students want to go, then we can better connect them to the curriculum, albeit the Common State Standards or what is currently being taught. Interestingly, the vast majority of students affirm that they want to attend college as they enter elementary school, however, few students are prepared for college as they exit high school. The conversation is long overdue… “Pick a Box!”

Download the Slide…

Download the Illustration…